MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Performance Related => Topic started by: BHAFAN on May 14, 2017, 11:09

Title: Wheels set up
Post by: BHAFAN on May 14, 2017, 11:09
Newbie post alert!
Had some rear tyres fitted recently and garage were surprised with the set up. I'm totally new to MR2 so haven't really thought about it until now.
Can you tell pros and cons of set up please?
I have 185/55/15 fronts and 215/45/16 rears.
Cheers   s:? :? s:?
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: Carolyn on May 14, 2017, 11:13
Absolutely spot on.
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: Topdownman on May 14, 2017, 12:30
I dont think its a case of pros and cons so much as that is the set up that Mr T decided worked best for the car.

The rears increased to 16" after the face lift and as this made things more awkward perhaps, I doubt they would have done it unless it offered a handling performance advantage as I can think of no other benefit in mixing wheel size?
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: lamcote on May 14, 2017, 12:36
That is the standard Toyota specification for the tyres. You need wider rear tyres because the mid engined layout puts more weight on the rear wheels than the front, added to which it is rear wheel drive so the rear tyres have even more work to do. You will notice virtually all mid/rear engined cars have wider rear tyres than front ones.

The 16 inch diameter rear wheel was introduced in the facelifted model in 2004 (previously 15 inch)  and allowed Toyota to increase the width of the standard rear tyre from 205 to 215 without needing to introduce other wheel/tyre specification changes.

I don't know why they wanted to widen the rear tyre but presumably it was either cosmetic or to influence handling/traction, or a combination of each.
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: 1979scotte on May 14, 2017, 16:20
Tyre places and a lot of mechanics know nothing about our cars.
As above spot on tyre sizes.
Should be same make and model on all 4 corners and proper brands not cheapo rubbish or you will end up in a hedge backwards.
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: McMr2 on May 14, 2017, 22:21
You're not alone there, when I took tyres along for fitting they were trying to convince me I'd made a mistake by ordering 2 different sizes.
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: McMr2 on May 14, 2017, 22:24
Oh, and then asked me to sign a disclaimer as I elected to move up a section and it was all on me if anything rubbed!
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: Essex2Visuvesi on May 14, 2017, 23:44
They only have to look it up... Any tyre company that can't find that simple information isn't worthy of your business.  I'd be concerned about what else they didn't know and would go elsewhere
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: Bernie on May 15, 2017, 08:39
Recheck your tyres pressures too they always seem to mess them up as well !
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: 1979scotte on May 15, 2017, 21:21
Quote from: "bernie11a"Recheck your tyres pressures too they always seem to mess them up as well !

Thats sound advice they always do the same pressures all round big no no.
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: Ardent on May 15, 2017, 21:32
what they said ^^^^^^^
Title: Re: Wheels set up
Post by: BHAFAN on May 19, 2017, 22:14
Thanks everyone. Tyre pressures... I'll go check 'em!  Sadly it's currently got cheap rears right now but they're nearly new so will stay for now. Great advice as always. Cheers